Australia sticks with aid contribution to United Nations Relief and Works Agency in Gaza despite attack probe

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton wants Australia to rethink making contributions to the United Nations aid agency operating in Gaza after it sacked nine staff found likely to have been involved in Hamas’ October 7 attacks

But Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the fact the body has taken action against those involved means Australia will not withdraw its $6 million in funding.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency employs nearly 30,000 staff across the Middle East, including 13,000 in Gaza.

Australia and about a dozen countries suspended funding to the body after Israel alleged in January that some of its staff were involved in the October 7 attacks.

Overnight, the international body announced a UN Office of Oversight Services investigation into 19 staff from the aid agency — two of whom are now dead — found evidence that nine of them “may have been involved in the 7 October attacks”.

UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini sacked the nine workers immediately and reiterated his agency’s condemnation of the Hamas attacks.

“The Agency’s priority is to continue lifesaving and critical services for Palestine Refugees in Gaza and across the region, especially in the face of the ongoing war, the instability and risk of regional escalation,” he said.

“UNRWA is committed to continue upholding the fundamental principles and values of the United Nations, including the humanitarian principle of neutrality, and to ensure that all its staff abide by the Agency’s policy on outside and political activities.”

Mr Dutton said in light of this finding, there needed to be more transparency around how Australian aid money was spent.

“It should cause the Albanese Government to reconsider their involvement, their engagement, their funding of UNRWA,” he told Sky News.

“It’s completely and utterly unacceptable that a UN agency would have employees involved in, or alleged to have been involved in, the October 7 tragedy.”

But Mr Albanese said UNRWA did vital work in the region.

Asked whether Australia would consider stopping its funding again, he said: “They’ve taken action, that’s the point.”

Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Defence Minister Richard Marles in March lifted the pause on $6 million headed to UNRWA, saying at the time they were satisfied the agency had rebuilt its integrity.

Australia put additional conditions on its funding including requirements for staff neutrality and confidence in supply chains.

“We paused those operations until we received those assurances that the integrity would be secured, and it is a good thing that the United Nations has taken this action,” Mr Albanese said on Tuesday.

“We know that the events of October 7 were appalling, and we unequivocally condemn them, as would all who value human life.”

Mr Dutton suggested humanitarian support could be provided to people in Gaza through other avenues, but did not expand on this.